Stereophile doubles down on the snake oil!

[rdenney]

“ I still find those words more judgemental than is justified. He hasn’t expressly set out to deceive you, or anyone else as far as we know. How about misguided, deluded, narcissistically grandiose?”

Sadly, I must disagree and say that the deception is intentional. As others have pointed out, it is a matter of financial survival.

JA performs objective measurements and, from time to time, has critical observations about the measured product.

The cable insanity was started in the 70s by Bob Fulton of Fulton Musical Industries - his Fulton Gold speaker cables could be used for arc welding or pulling stumps!* Since
then, the “High-end” cable industry has exploded. The only contrarian along the way was the chief engineer/designer at McIntosh who rightly claimed that ordinary copper wire of adequate gage is all that is required.

*Comment attributed to Nelson Pass, not original to me!

It wasn't just the chief engineer/designer at McIntosh (Roger Russel, at least the chief of the loudspeaker department), it was also the CEO, Gordon Gow. Eventually, they gave it up because they couldn't persuade anybody even with AB comparisons at shows and because this topic about products they don't sell was affecting sales of products they actually made. They switched to a policy of leaving it to their dealers.

On the topic, I suspect there are engineers who should know better who actually believe the BS, just as there are doctors who actually believe the claimed salutary effects of whatever supplement they are hawking. Every preacher has his heresy.

But the simple fact is that the story that electronics are a solved problem isn't going to sell magazines, let alone magazines that need ad revenue.

Rick "doesn't mind opinions from experienced listeners in addition to measurements" Denney

 

[Sal1950]

^This^ is almost totally untrue.
- The propagation is largely outside the wire, or on the surface of the wire.
- The speed is primarily determined by the dielectric constant of insulation.
- If it is all delayed by the same amount, then who cares?

And none of that amounts to a hill of beans at audio frequency's.

 

[rdenney]

discussions about snake-oil will continue as long as there's snake-oil to discuss. Which means forever.

discussions about snake oil will continue as long as there are snakes.

Rick "FTFY" Denney

 

[Holmz]

And none of that amounts to a hill of beans at audio frequency's.

^While true^, I was only addressing the physics of what’s happening.

 

[Waxx]

And they keep going, the ultimate audiophool setup: ..., set up a mind-blowing system at Munich High End, valued at well over $3 million...

 

[Keith_W]

And they keep going, the ultimate audiophool setup: ..., set up a mind-blowing system at Munich High End, valued at well over $3 million...

And the $25,000 subwoofer they are using (Wilson Thor's Hammer) has ports. Why the hell does such a big subwoofer need ports!!!

 

[F1Fan72]

And they keep going, the ultimate audiophool setup: ..., set up a mind-blowing system at Munich High End, valued at well over $3 million...

View attachment 453643

I’ll order one for my spare room…

 

[Palmer]

Stereophile is wrong on this one, it is the Wilson Subsonic in the setup. But, ports as well...

 

[levimax]

And the $25,000 subwoofer they are using (Wilson Thor's Hammer) has ports. Why the hell does such a big subwoofer need ports!!!

View attachment 453644

If you want a low port tuning you need a large enclosure and long port(s)

 

[Soandso]

TEMU has just announced a limited time offer of a free manual electron polisher when combined with any audio cable purchase. You just pay the shipping and handling.

 

[Sal1950]

And they keep going, the ultimate audiophool setup: ..., set up a mind-blowing system at Munich High End, valued at well over $3 million...

View attachment 453643

That snake-oil pusher JVS just keeps banging the MQA drum.
He just don't seem to get it that the rank and file audiophile community walked away a long time back.
Otherwise yes, an incredible 2ch system in a huge space big enough to accommodate it.
I would have loved to hear it.

"The setup also featured four eye-catching D’Agostino Relentless monoblocks ($349,500/pair), a three-piece Relentless preamplifier ($165,000), a full dCS Vivaldi front end (roughly $90,000 total), and a VPI Direct Drive turntable that wasn’t in use during my audition."

Of course not, they'd have to put a brick on the tonearm to keep the needle in the groove with that rig. LOL

 

[RickS]

Just a reminder to stay on topic here please!

Some of the latter parts of this thread are so off road, if it were a vehicle, would question the driver's sobriety.

 

[The_Fall]

maybe sales of expensive cables are tanking?

...and by extension, ad revenue.

 

[Kremmen]

Pages 3 - 5;

https://hifiplanet.com.br/clube/diversos/Cables%20part%203.pdf

JSmith

With regard to those cable reviews, the only rational explanation I can summon for such utter bilgewater is that Colloms has lost the plot and is away with the fairies. It's pathetic and very sad indeed.

An LSD enema anyone? I'm off to review some cables with Colloms. Care to join me?

 

[mhardy6647]

Apparently, quite a number of patents have been submitted to the patent office for perpetual motion machine machines.

I wonder if Colloms has reserved judgement on those until he has direct experience himself with their machines.

I wonder how many of those perpetual motion patents have also included specific claims for any or all of the following:
* Audio amplifiers with >100% efficiency
* audio cables which improve the quality of the signal fed to them.
* carburetors

 

[The_Fall]

I'm sure the US is the leading consumer for hifi and cables. Overall uncertainty on international trade and tariff policy likely has the entire industry in turmoil to some extent. Some manufacturers are likely getting hit twice on raw materials and components, and some are taking a full brunt of off shore import tariffs. Cables seem to me to be uniquely vulnerable to the current US administration policies.

Stereophile may be hoping to prop up segments of their market and manufacturer base to compensate -- this article is especially thin even for them.

 

[Holmz]

I'm sure the US is the leading consumer for hifi and cables.

I am not sure… It seems like a sensible premise, but is it?

Overall uncertainty on international trade and tariff policy likely has the entire industry in turmoil to some extent. Some manufacturers are likely getting hit twice on raw materials and components, and some are taking a full brunt of off shore import tariffs. Cables seem to me to be uniquely vulnerable to the current US administration policies.

I doubt it, the raw materials are surely only a small fraction of the cost.

Stereophile may be hoping to prop up segments of their market and manufacturer base to compensate -- this article is especially thin even for them.

 

[Audiofire]

A cornered rat may act desperately (as last resort)

 

[kemmler3D]

View attachment 453572

AudioQuest 8' Dragon BiWire COMBO Speaker Cable w/ ZERO for Treble + BASS for Bass - Pair - 2 x Male U-Spade > 4 x Male U-Spade - Silver

Designed specifically to optimize the performance of biwireable loudspeakers, Dragon BiWire COMBO speaker cables comprise a Dragon ZERO and Dragon BASS, conveniently joined at the amp end.

www.audioquest.com

There are no words...


JSmith

Does the combo package come with fries and a drink? At that price it better!

As for the point on tariffs it mostly hinges on who owns the importer, where they are coming from, and what price was paid on the import.

Worst case, the cables are shipped to a retailer straight from China and they pay a percent of then full wholesale cost. So maybe a percentage of 1/3 of $50k.

Best case the cables are shipped to Audio quests own US warehouse and tariffs are paid only on the basic cost of goods. So maybe a percentage of $500.

 

[levimax]

Best case the cables are shipped to Audio quests own US warehouse and tariffs are paid only on the basic cost of goods. So maybe a percentage of $500.

More like $50 or even less.